Preventative Care

It has long been recommended by experts that medical care should focus more on preventative care than they currently do. The idea is that if you catch problems early enough, you can nip them in the bud and reduce health care costs as a result. Well, the federal government has decided to test that theory with the passing of the Health Care Reform law with these provisions going into affect for plans sold after September 23, 2010. The change was introduced as part of the overall health care reform and dictates that North Carolina health insurance companies must provide preventative care medical services free of charge.  Below is a list of these services.

Covered Preventive Services for Adult

• Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm one-time screening for men of specified ages who have ever smoked
• Alcohol Misuse screening and counseling
• Aspirin use for men and women of certain ages
• Blood Pressure screening for all adults
• Cholesterol screening for adults of certain ages or at higher risk
• Colorectal Cancer screening for adults over 50
• Depression screening for adults
• Type 2 Diabetes screening for adults with high blood pressure
• Diet counseling for adults at higher risk for chronic disease
• HIV screening for all adults at higher risk
• Immunization vaccines for adults–doses, recommended ages, and recommended populations vary:
  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B
  • Herpes Zoster
  • Human Papillomavirus
  • Influenza
  • Measles, Mumps, Rubella
  • Meningococcal
  • Pneumococcal
  • Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis
  • Varicella

• Obesity screening and counseling for all adults
• Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) prevention counseling for adults at higher risk
• Tobacco Use screening for all adults and cessation interventions for tobacco users
• Syphilis screening for all adults at higher risk

Covered Preventive Services for Women, Including Pregnant Women

• Anemia screening on a routine basis for pregnant women
• Bacteriuria urinary tract or other infection screening for pregnant women
• BRCA counseling about genetic testing for women at higher risk
• Breast Cancer Mammography screenings every 1 to 2 years for women over 40
• Breast Cancer Chemoprevention counseling for women at higher risk
• Breast Feeding interventions to support and promote breast feeding
• Cervical Cancer screening for sexually active women
• Chlamydia Infection screening for younger women and other women at higher risk
• Folic Acid supplements for women who may become pregnant
• Gonorrhea screening for all women at higher risk
• Hepatitis B screening for pregnant women at their first prenatal visit
• Osteoporosis screening for women over age 60 depending on risk factors
• Rh Incompatibility screening for all pregnant women and follow-up testing for women at higher risk
• Tobacco Use screening and interventions for all women, and expanded counseling for pregnant tobacco users
• Syphilis screening for all pregnant women or other women at increased risk

Covered Preventive Services for Children

• Alcohol and Drug Use assessments for adolescents
• Autism screening for children at 18 and 24 months
• Behavioral assessments for children of all ages
• Cervical Dysplasia screening for sexually active females
• Congenital Hypothyroidism screening for newborns
• Developmental screening for children under age 3, and surveillance throughout childhood
• Dyslipidemia screening for children at higher risk of lipid disorders
• Fluoride Chemoprevention supplements for children without fluoride in their water source
• Gonorrhea preventive medication for the eyes of all newborns
• Hearing screening for all newborn
• Height, Weight and Body Mass Index measurements for children
• Hematocrit or Hemoglobin screening for children
• Hemoglobinopathies or sickle cell screening for newborns
• HIV screening for adolescents at higher risk
• Immunization vaccines for children from birth to age 18 —doses, recommended ages, and recommended populations vary:
  • Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis
  • Haemophilus influenzae type b
  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B
  • Human Papillomavirus
  • Inactivated Poliovirus
  • Influenza
  • Measles, Mumps, Rubella
  • Meningococcal
  • Pneumococcal
  • Rotavirus
  • Varicella

 

• Iron supplements for children ages 6 to 12 months at risk for anemia
• Lead screening for children at risk of exposure
• Medical History for all children throughout development
• Obesity screening and counseling
• Oral Health risk assessment for young children
• Phenylketonuria (PKU) screening for this genetic disorder in newborns
• Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) prevention counseling for adolescents at higher risk
• Tuberculin testing for children at higher risk of tuberculosis• Vision screening for all children

These changes to the way North Carolina health insurance companies can charge for certain services means a lot of things. Primarily it means that people can get regular screenings for health concerns and take care of problems before they become an issue.